SHERIFF JOHN MACON POAG - KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY -
APRIL 12, 1905
Tate County Sheriff's Office has two sheriff in it's history that were killed in the line of duty. On Wednesday, April 12, 1905 Sheriff John Macon Poag was shot and killed by a mob of masked men who entered his jail for the purpose of liberating a murder suspect. The sheriff's order that the men leave was met with a refusal, whereupon Sheriff John Poag fired, wounding one man. The mob returned fire killing the sheriff, and then left without the prisoner.
Eventually 13 men were charged with Sheriff Poag's murder. Newspapers of that day reported that most if not all escaped punishment. Sheriff Poag was 47 years old at the time of his death.
SHERIFF WILLIAM FRANKLIN BRAY - KILLED IN LINE OF DUTY - MARCH 20, 1898
March 20, 1898 Sheriff William Bray was killed and Deputy Sheriff Homer Gilmore dangerously wounded when an arguement began with Ashely Cocke, a prominent and wealthy planter of north Mississippi. Cocke emptied his pistol at Gilmore striking him three times. Cocke then walked across the street, reloading his pistol. Sheriff Bray, hearing the shooting, hastened to the scene and getting within a few feet of Cocke, drew his pistol and ordered Cocke to throw up his hands. Cocke yelled back at the sheriff not to come any further. Bray fired, but missed and then Cocke, took aim and shot the sheriff through the heart.
DEPUTY SHERIFF JEFF WALKER WILLIAMS - KILLED IN LINE OF DUTY - OCTOBER 16, 1932
Sunday, October 16, 1932 Deputy Sheriff Jeff Williams, 23, was shot and killed by a man he arrested for robbery at a home seven miles south of Senatobia. Just after the officer made the arrest the suspect grabbed Deputy Williams' pistol and shot him.
Deputy Williams' father, the Tate County Sheriff, organized a posse of more than 75 men who surrounded a nearby home where the suspect was thought to be hiding. When someone in the house opened fire the posse returned fire killing four men inside the home. The men, a father, his two sons, and his son-in-law were relatives of the suspect. The suspect was not there. He was captured in Memphis, Tennessee, December 13, 1932.
PHOTO AND INFORMATION
Any information that would assist us in providing accurate dates, photographs or terms of former sheriffs would be greatly appreciated. Please contact us so we may continue to share with our community.
 Sheriff Josiah Dailey 1873 to 1874 |
 Sheriff N. S. Love 1874 to 1874 |
 Sheriff R. J. Carter 1874 to 1876 |
 Sheriff J. E. Matthews 1876 to 1880 |
 Sheriff W. B. Wright 1880 to 1882 |
 Sheriff P.M.B. Wait 1882 to 1896 |
 Sheriff W. F. Bray 1896 to 1898 |
 Sheriff Berry B. Brooks 1900 to 1904 |
 Sheriff J. M. Poag 1904 to 1905 |
 Sheriff W.G. Cocke Sr. 1908 to 1912 |
 Sheriff R.D. Williams 1912 to 1916 |
 Sheriff J. A. Still 1916 to 1920 |
 Sheriff R. D. Williams 1920 to 1924 |
 Sheriff W.G. Cocke Sr. 1924 to 1928 |
 Sheriff M.C. Campbell 1928 to 1929 |
 Sheriff Lil Campbell 1929 to 1932 |
 Sheriff C. A. Williams 1932 to 1936 |
 Sheriff J. R. Quinn 1936 to 1940 |
 Sheriff John Young 1940 to 1944 |
 Sheriff L. E. Samuels 1944 to 1948 |
 Sheriff W. W. Davis 1948 to 1952 |
 Sheriff W. T. Freeman 1952 to 1956 |
 Sheriff Joe Taylor 1956 to 1960 |
 Sheriff E. M. Williams 1960 to 1964 |
 Sheriff Albert Blair 1964 to 1968 |
 Sheriff Joe W. Taylor 1968 to 1976 |
 Sheriff Herbert McIver 1976 to 1984 |
 Sheriff Shelton Ingram 1984 to 2008 |
 John Macon Poag New York Times Article |
 Article on Sheriff Campbell |
 Sheriff M.C. Campbell and Deputy Bud Ellis |
 Sheriff M.C. Campbell early years |
 Mrs. M.C. "Lil" Campbell |
 First Tate County Jail |
 2nd Tate County Jail |
 News article on arrest of moonshiners |
 Arrest includes 238 gallons of moonshine |
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 Sheriff Pete Freeman swearing in Joe Taylor as Chief Deputy |
 Tate County Courthouse Completed 1875 |
 1959 Sheriff's Election |
 Marlin Stanford Tate County's 1st D.A.R.E. Officer |
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 2010 Tate County Patch |